Alzheimer's Disease: A 21st Century Epidemic Alliance for Aging Research Releases New Pocket Films to Raise Awareness

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Pocket films, directed by David Shenk and narrated by David Hyde Pierce, aim to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease. Developed by the Alliance for Aging Research, these films are available in multiple languages and available for free use.

Washington, DC (PRWEB)September 29, 2011

Experts warn that Alzheimer’s disease will reach epidemic proportions by mid-century. Already, more than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s. If a cure is not found, this number is expected to double in the next 20 years. In addition to the devastating effect on individuals and their families, Alzheimer’s disease will create a massive and unsustainable burden on the U.S. economy. A new series of five short animated “pocket” films, A Quick Look at Alzheimer’s, aims to raise public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, a critical step towards finding a cure.

The films, developed by the Alliance for Aging Research through a grant from the MetLife Foundation, were written and directed by David Shenk, author of the acclaimed book, The Forgetting, and are narrated by Emmy- and Tony-award winning actor David Hyde Pierce. Originally developed in English, the films are now also available in multiple languages including: Arabic, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Available in multiple languages and playable in a variety of formats, including iPods, cell phones, PDAs, laptops and DVD players, these pocket films are universally accessible. Now, your questions about Alzheimer’s disease can be answered virtually anywhere--at home, at the office or even in the waiting room at your doctor’s office. Log onto http://www.aboutalz.org to watch or download the films.

“The looming threat of Alzheimer’s disease consuming the Baby Boomer generation urgently demands a national plan of action,” said Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research. “We encourage everyone to view and share these films so that there is broad understanding of what is at stake.”